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March 24, 1964 v. susslN 3,126,051.

FLOOR SEAL FOR ROOM DIVIDER PARTITION Filed Sept. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i om rl-Jvwb INVENTOR. VICTOR SUSSlN March 24, 1964 v. SUSSIN 3,126,051v

FLooR SEAL FOR RooM DIVIDER PARTITION Filed sept. e, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O i 3,126,651 FLUR SEAL FR ROQM DIVIDER PARTITION Victor Sussin, Elmhurst, Ill., assigner to Brunswick Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 221,751 11 Claims. (Cl. 160-40) This invention relates to an extensible room divider installation, and more particularly to a floor seal assembly for such an installation.

Primary objects of this invention are to provide a new and useful installation of the type described and a door seal therefor.

Various types of extensible room dividers are well known, for example, partitions such as sliding doors, folding panels, traverse drapes and ilexible acoustical curtains such as woven lead materials. Often such curtains are used as room dividers, suitably suspended from the ceiling of the room and operable between extended and retracted positions. It is highly desirable that such curtains electively prevent drafts and the transmission of sound between portions of a room lso divided. In order to adequately accomplish these desirable functions, there should be no openings between the divided portions of the room, but with such curtains it has been particularly difficult to properly seal the area between the lower portion of the curtain and the floor.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and useful assembly mounted on a floor for providing closure means between a draw curtain and the iloor in a room divider installation.

Another object is to provide a new and useful assembly installed in a iloor `for providing a closure between a curtain and the oor and `generally level =with the iloor when the curtain is retracted and the assembly is closed.

Another object is provision of a new and useful draw curtain floor seal assembly which effectively clamps and seals the juncture of the lower edge of a draw curtain and the floor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional View of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a floor seal assembly for a suspended draw Curtain installation, with the floor seal in open position and the curtain received therein;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, similar to FIGURE l, but with the oor seal clamping and sealing the lower edge portion of the curtain;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, similar to FIG- URE 2, but with the floor seal in closed position; and

FIGURE 4 is a top View of the door seal assembly in closed position, to the scale of FIGURE l, and with parts broken away for clearer illustration.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail herein, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplioation of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a door seal assembly `for releasably clamping and sealing the lower edge portion of a curtain or the like and providing a generally coplanar oor surface when the curtain is open. A novel operating mechanism is provided for actuating a floor seal member.

3,126,051 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 With reference to the drawings, a draw curtain, illustrated in the form of a `folding acoustical curtain 10` is suitably suspended, as from the ceiling of a room by ceiling :attached track 10a carrying curtain attaching trolleys 10b, for operation across a Hoor F or other surface, between open (retracted) and drawn (extended) positions. As shown in FIGURE 2, a lower edge portionw11 of curtain 10 is clamped and sealed in a floor seal assembly 12 by means of a clamping :shoe 13. FIGURE l shows floor seal 12 in open position so that curtain 10 may be operated therein between open position and closed drawn position. In FIGURE 3, iloor seal 12 is in closed position with curtain 10` withdrawn and shoe 13 and a cover 14 cooperating with flanges 15 of a channel-shaped body portion 16 of the floor seal assembly to define with floor F a generally level and coplanar surface.

Body .116 has an elongated trough 18 extending along the path traversed by curtain lo in movement between open and closed positions, and this trough is defined by opposed side Walls 19 and 2@ interconnected by a bottom Wall V21 countersunk in the iloor, and flanges 15 extending outwardly from the upper edges of side Walls 19` and 20* and receiving suitable fasteners for securing the seal assembly to the floor.

In order to provide a more compact and easily handled Y unit, the oor seal is made in relatively short lengths operatively assembled with ends 21 of adjacent bodies 16 abutting each other and firmly secured together as by straps 22 spanning abutting ends 21 and suitably secured to adjacent bodies as by bolts 2.3, one strap 22, lfor each side wall 19 and 20 and bottom wall 21.

Clamping shoe 13 is mounted on body 16, and more particularly is pivoted to the body in any suitable manner as by a strap hinge 24 bolted to bottom wall 2b1 and to the lower portion of shoe 13. A strong torsion spring y25 (FIG. 4) is suitably mounted on hinge pin 26 of hinge 2dthereby providing resilient means urging shoe 13 to seated position against body lside wall 2t) at the upper face of the body when the seal is closed, or in direct engagement with curtain lower edge portion 11 and clamping and sealing any opening between the curtain and floor to eifectively prevent the passage of drafts and sound around the lower edge of the curtain. As may best be seen in FIG. 2, the curtain is thus tightly held between shoe 13 and wall 20; and more particularly between resilient seal gaskets 27, preferably extruded vinyl material, suitably mounted in wall 20 as by dovetail connections.

With reference to FIG. 3, when oor seal 12 is normally closed, its cover 14 has one edge portion 30 seated against 4a generally horizontal face of a cut-out portion 31 in the upper and inner face of shoe 13 to effectively prevent the shoe from pivoting counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, thus providing an interlock releasably holding the shoe in closed position. The opposite edge 32 of cover 14 is provided with an elongated rounded portion 33 received in a cooperating elongated rounded channel 34 on the upper edge of body side wall 19, thereby mounting the cover for pivotal movement between the closed position as shown in FIGURE 3 and an open position as shown in FIGURE l. Tension springs 35 are suitably secured at one end to an intermediate portion of the inner face of cover 14 and at an opposite end to a portion of hinge pin 26 and provide resilient means urging cover 14 to closed position.

Means is provided for operating Ithe tloor seal assembly between closed and open positions, and herein this means is in the form of an operating shaft 36 extending axially in a direction longitudinal of and within trough 18` and journalled in suitable mounts 37 of body 16. Actuators 38 are axially spaced along and secured to shaft 36 for rotation therewith, and each has a cam portion 39 which engages the inner rface of cover 14; -upon rotation of shaft 316 in one direction (counterclockwise 1in FIGURE 2) to pivot cover 14 to open position against the urging of spring 35. Shank members 40 are pivotally mounted by pivot pins 41 on actuators 38 and extend through openings 42 in shoes 13, with a head 43 of each member dit seated in a cooperating socket on a side of the shoe opposite pivot pin 41. When shaft 36 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 2, shank 40 is moved to the lef-t, thus pivoting shoe 13 counterclockwise to open position. Thus, curtain may be moved, through the resultant gap between shoe 13 and wall 2Q, between open and drawn positions. Upon rotation of shaft 36 in an opposite direction (clockwise in FIGURE l), torsion spring 2.5 urges shoe 13 clockwise, and when the shoe is seated against either curtain 10 or wall 20, continued rotation of shaft 36 permits head A43 to move away from the socket in shoe I3, thus providing a lost motion connection and assuring proper seating of' the shoe against either the curtain or wall 20 of the body, as shown in FIGURES' 2 and 3, respectively.

Means ffor operating shaft 36 is provided in the illustrated embodiment by a cable actuating mechanism including a part E-S- secured to shaft 36 yfor rotation therewith and having an arcuate periphery 46 receiving a cable 47 secured at one end ii to part 45 and having an opposite end passing around a pulley 49 and connected with a suitable cable reeling device (not shown). Thus, upon tensioning cable 47, shaft 36 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGURE l, to` open the seal, and upon releasing cable `46, shaft 36 rotates clockwise as shoe 13 and cover 14 move toward seated position.

-I claim:

l. A draw curtain floor seal assembly operable between open and seated positions, comprising, a body having an upper face. adapted to be generally coplanar with a door and an elongated trough defined in par-t by a wall adapted to extend adjacent the path traversed by the, curtain in moving between extended and retracted positions, a clamping shoe generally coextensive with and in said trough and pivotally mounted on said body for movement between an open position spaced from said wall and defining a gap for receiving the` curtain, `and a seated position seated against said wall at said upper face when said curtain is in retracted position, and adapted to be seatedA against said curtain when said curtain is in said trough, resilient means urging said shoe to seated position, a cover generally coplanar with said upper face and having an edge portion supported on said. shoe in seated position, said cover having an opposite edge portion pivotally mounted on said body for movement of said cover into and out of seated position covering said trough, resilient means urging said cover to seatedv position, an operating, shaft axially coextensive with and within said trough and journalled `onsaid body, an actuator mountedr on said shaft for lrotation therewith and having cam means for moving said cover out of seated position responsive to rotation of said shaft in one direction, a member mounted on said actuator and connected with said shoe for moving said shoe to open position and holding said shoe in open positionresponsive -to rotation of said shaft in said one direction and releasing said shoe for movement to seated position responsive to rotation of said shaft in an opposite direction, for clamping said curtain between said shoe and wall.

2. The assembly of claim l wherein said cover and shoe are interlocked for effectively preventing saidr shoe from being moved toward open position when said cover is in seated position.

3. An extensible partition door seal assembly operable between open and seated positions,` comprising,V a body having an elongated trough defined in part by a wall adapted to extend adjacent the path traversed by the partition in moving between extended-and retracted positions, a sealing shoe generallyl coextensive with and in Said trough and pivotally mounted on said body for movement between an open position spaced from said wall and 'delning a gap for receiving the partition, and a seated position abutting said wall at said upper face when said partition is in retracted position and adapted to be seated against said partition when said'partition is in said trough, resilient means urging said shoe to seated position, an operating shaft axially coextensive with and within said trough and mounted on said body, a member for moving said shoe out of seated position responsive to operation of Isaidshaft in one direction and releasing said shoe for movement to seated position responsive to operation of said shaft in an opposite direction, whereby when said shoe is in open position said partition may be drawn through the resultant gap between said shoe and wall and when said partition is in said gap said shoe may be operated to seated positionagainst said partition.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said member rmly engages said shoe upon movement to open position and is effectively free of said shoe in seated position.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said member is connected with said shoe by a lost motion connection rmly engaging said shoe upon movement to open position and effectively free of said shoe in seated position to permit said shoe to be. freely seated against said wall.

6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said shoe has an opening and said member is pivotally mounted on said actuator'V and extends through said shoe opening, said memberV having a head on a side of said shoe opposite the pivotalI mounting of said member, and said head freely abutting said shoe upon movement to open position and being effectively free of said shoe in seated position to permit said shoe to close freely.

7. In a llexible room divider installation, a iloor, a flexible roomdivider mounted for movement across said lloor between extended and retracted positions, and a seal assembly mounted in said oor and normally ush with said' floor when closed and operable from closed position to open and seated positions, said seal assembly having a trough, andin open position saidY trough freely receiving a lower edge portion of said divider for movement therein, and means including a seal member in said trough operable between an open position clear of the divider when extended and a seated position releasably-clamping and sealing said lower portion of said divider within said trough against the wallV of the trough when said divider is in extended position.

8. A seal assembly operable between open and seated positions, comprising a body having a trough delined in part by a wall, a sealing member in said trough and mounted for movement between an open position spaced from Vsaid wall, and a seated position seated against said wall, a cover mounted for movement on` said body into and out of seated position covering said trough, and means for simultaneously operating-said cover and shoe into and out of seated position.

9. In` a flexible room partition installation, a floor, a partition of flexible material mounted for movement across saidv door between extended and retracted positions; and a seal assembly mounted on said hoor and operable between. open and seated positions, said seal assembly in open position. having a trough freely receiving a lower edge portion of said partition for movement therein when said partition is extended, and means mounted in the trough operable for releasably sealing saidlower portion of said partition. within said trough against the trough wall when said partition is. in extended position.

10. Anextensible partition seal' assembly operable between open and seated positions, comprising, means dening' an elongated trough` having a wall adapted to extend adjacent the edge of the partition in extended position, a sealing shoe generally coextensive with and'in said trough and mounted for movement between an open position spaced' from said wall and defining a gap for receiving the partition, and a seated position abutting said wall When said partition is in retracted position and adapted to be seated against said partition when said partition is in said trough, resiient means urging said shoe to seated position, an operating shaft adjacent the shoe, and means for moving said shoe out of seated position responsive to operation of said shaft in one direction and releasing said shoe for movement to seated position responsive to operation of said shaft in an opposite direction, whereby when said shoe is in open position said partition may be positioned in the resultant gap between said shoe and Wall and when said partition is in said gap said shoe may be operated to seated position against said partition.

11. A curtain seal assembly operable between open and seated positions, comprising, means dening an elongated trough having a wall adapted to extend along an edge of the curtain in extended position, a clamping shoe generally coextensive with and in said trough and mounted for movement between an open position spaced from said wall and dening a gap for receiving the curtain, and a seated position seated against said Wall at said upper face when said curtain is in retracted position, and adapted to be seated against said curtain when said curtain is in said trough, means for moving said shoe to seated position, a cover on the trough having an edge portion supported on said shoe in seated position, said cover having an opposite edge portion pivotally mounted for movement of said cover into and out of seated position covering said trough, means for moving said cover to seated position, an operating shaft having means for moving said cover out of seated position and means for moving said shoe to open position and holding said shoe in open position responsive to rotation of said shaft in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,779 Stratton Dec. 13, 1938 2,638,641 Menzies May 19, 1953 2,829,405 Huff Apr. 8, 1958 2,862,256 Stroup Dec. 2, 1958 2,987,784 Querio June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 175,349 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1922 

8. A SEAL ASSEMBLY OPERABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND SEATED POSITIONS, COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A TROUGH DEFINED IN PART BY A WALL, A SEALING MEMBER IN SAID TROUGH AND MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION SPACED FROM SAID WALL, AND A SEATED POSITION SEATED AGAINST SAID WALL, A COVER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ON SAID BODY INTO AND OUT OF SEATED POSITION COVERING SAID TROUGH, AND MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY OPERATING SAID COVER AND SHOE INTO AND OUT OF SEATED POSITION. 